Question: What is your opinion on topical caffeine as a method to prevent hair loss?
Name: Frank
Question: There are a few studies being published regarding caffeine’s effect on blocking DHT topically. As I know the centre keeps up to date with all major breakthroughs, what is your opinion on topical caffeine as a method to prevent hair loss/regrowth potential?
Answer: In January last year a study was carried out and published in the International Journal of Dermatology (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17214716?dopt=AbstractPlus). The study involved hair follicles being removed from balding men and cultured (artificially grown) in a lab. All the follicles were exposed to testosterone and some were also exposed to caffeine. The hair growth from follicles exposed to testosterone was significantly reduced (as is the case with follicles affected by Male Pattern Hair Loss) whereas not only did caffeine seem to prevent testosterone from negatively affecting hair growth, but it also stimulated growth of the hair.
Unfortunately this does not tell us as much as I’m sure you and I would like to think! The fact that this was carried out in a lab on individual cultured hair follicles could be very different to the effects caffeine would have if administered to the scalp of a human. There would need to be many years of research carried out into whether the same effects would be seen on the scalp of a human, and if so, how much would need to be absorbed and whether or not this amount of caffeine would be safe in the body.
I am unaware of any hair products on the market containing caffeine but if there are I would be wary of any claims made regarding hair loss prevention. I think it will be many years before we know the true answer to whether or not caffeine can effectively prevent hair loss.
